Dispatchers Ear

Number one is officer safety, if you don't have that care and concern don't become a dispatcher. Like others said, remember where your guys/gals are at all times. GPS is not 100% (one of our deputies was in Africa all night - I hope he had fun, LOL) Response time is critical! Go on a ride along, or what ever they call it there. Do it at least once. It'll give you a feel for what your officers are hearing from dispatch.

Smile when you answer the phone/radio (even a fake one translates as a real one). Remember to breathe! Your ability to hear, do, and react to several things at the same time will improve with time and your dedication to this position.

Right now I have one of my guys (new to our shift) pissed off at me. He refused to answer traffic and messages sent to his laptop. He was out of his unit and hadn't called in. Good thing his GPS was working. It scared the hell out of me. When he came into dispatch I let him know how I felt. He told the LT I chewed his ass. If I didn't give a damn I wouldn't have said a word. We shall see if this behavior changes.

You will have to deal with the officers that mumble, hold the mic to close or to far, talk to fast/slow, different accents etc. You will develop a "dispatcher's ear" and learn to understand stuff most people won't. I understand every word mumbles says now. haha

Good luck to you. You are their lifeline.

-from Police Dispatching for Dummies. Keep a sense of humor or you will end up nuts, (like me).